The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-01-28
Nuts For Farmers to Crack.
Communicated

Communicated
For fear of occupying too much space in
your valuable paper last week we did not
say all we wished to in regard to 'tFarm
Help" A member of the Deer Creek Farm
ers' Club said he preferred to hire men for
nine months and not employ them in wint-
er because it kept him at home too much
to direct them. This reminds lis of slavery
days" when the masters wason the watch.
The voice of this man had scarcely died
away when another said, we should en-
ploy our help in winter the same as in
summer; they are our support. and
must live in winter the same as
in summer. We can find plenty
for them to DO such as getting ready fenc-
ing material to be used in the spring; wood
&c. Now we should like to know how the
first speaker expected his men to live
through the winter and be able to resume
work in the spring, when he knew full
we'll that the wages paid them for nine
months had all been spent to support their
families. He did not know and the inference
is did not care. This causes as to remark
there is many good, honest men serving out
terms behind prison bars who ought to he
at home with their families. Why are
they in prison you ask if honest men? Oar
answer is. Had they received the just re
ward of their labor they would have had
plenty to live on during the three moEths
of idleness, or if the farmer had kept them
employed all the year the chances
are they would not have been reduced to
mendicants which means beg or steal and
as ls.well known the proud heart OF the
American is about as willing to steal as
beg, and one of two things stare them in the
face starvation or state prison. How can
some farmers expect their men to pull
through long winter without money or
credit don't they know it takes more fuel.
clothing and provisions in winter than at
other seasons. Now how are these wants
to be met? being out of work and money will
not do it and don't you for get it.
Most farmers hold the idea that their
help need only enough to keep soul and
body together. We claim that they shonld
receive fair wages which if handled econ
omicaly would leave something for rainy
day or as the saying goes sore shin. How
many farmers are mindful of the home
comforts of their hands, do they see to it
that the tenant house is kept in good repair
such as putting in window panes plastering
&c. before winter begins? Do they ever
drop in of evening to see how John and
his family are coming on, taking him a
book or paper to read? We think not, but
why should the social line be drawn here?
Nevertheless, it is TOO true and the "colOr0
line was never more firmly drawn than the
one in question. How is it when the fest
i've season draws nigh, does the hired man
attend the county fair? No. Why not? Be
cause he can't afford to spare the time and
money incident to the trip but the farmer
gets there all the same. The man who
wrote sLabor we'll directed will achieve all
things,' certainly did not work on farm
for living. How many farmers follow the
example of Henry Dston &Son's by giving
each employe christmas turkey? We ven
ture 10 say there are none. Will farmers
saw they are not able to do this. If Henry
Diston & Sons are able to buy and give
away 200 turkeys annually, the farmer
is certainly able to give away one or two,
he should do more, he should say, here
John here isa turkey for your christmas
YOU may come in the morning and help
feed the stock, after which you may spend
the balance of the day with your family
and turkey. Would not the farmer feel
better for having made happy the poor fam
lily.
The farmer to the fair he goes,
Dressed in his best suit of clothes.
Wife and daughter GO along,
While the hand stays home to husk the
corn,
He tolls all day mid dirt and dust,
The very man who the farmer can't trust.
.s A WoRKINGMAN.
WHY WILL YOU cough when Shi-